The room was like any normal bedroom. It had some decorations on the wall and a bed which had a white bedsheet.
However, that white bedsheet was covered with blood. The unmoving body of a young boy was lying on the bed with a bullet mark on his chest.
Besides the man, a woman was lying unconscious. She seemed to be pregnant.
On the other side of the dead boy, a middle-aged man was sitting pale-faced. "Y-you killed my son! I'll kill you!"
A man was keeping his gun aimed at them while Clarisse seemed confused, not knowing how to react. This wasn't part of the plan. How did they end up killing a kid? She didn't believe they were doing the right thing, even if it was for getting the materials they needed.
She was just about to do something, but attacking someone from her side was a bit conflicting. She had to think a lot about it.
"What are you doing? We don't come here to kill someone! You said yourself! Why did you kill the kid?' Clarisse asked.
"I didn't kill the kid. They killed their son. I told them not to move. They thought I was bluffing?" Jake replied.
"Sometimes, you must sacrifice one person to get what you need." He turned to the man on the bed. "Now, answer my questions. If you don't, I'll kill your wife as well!"
Just as he finished, a sigh echoed in the surroundings.
"No you won't," Lucifer replied, snapping his fingers. The gun flew out of the hands of Jake, landing in the hands of Lucifer, who crushed the gun.
"Who?" Jake and Clarisse turned back, surprised.
"You two?" Clarisse immediately recognized Lucifer and Zale. What were they doing here? More importantly, what did they see? Were they misunderstanding her as well?
"Variants? You must be the Variant Guard I heard was here," Jake said, shaking his head. "Clarisse, take him out so we can get out fast."
'This is interesting.' A dark figure was watching everything, seemingly amused. He kept himself hidden despite being in plain sight. Things were getting interesting for him.
"I-" Clarisse stayed still. Just this morning, she had fought them, and she had lost easily. Moreover, she knew that these people weren't bad. They said they were tourists here. How could they be guards here?
"Are you guards here? Did you lie about being a tourist?" Clarisse asked.
"I'm really not against killing anyone. I've killed many personally, but to see you do things like this... I don't know what to think," Lucifer replied. "I am not here to fight you. Please step aside and let me do what I'm here for."
"And what would that be?' Clarisse asked.
"I'm here for him," Lucifer said, pounding towards Ramian Asade. "Please leave. I don't want to fight you."
Lucifer walked to the bed, completely ignoring the two guests.
"What are you doing? Take him out!"
"I-" Clarisse didn't move. Everything was suddenly so confusing for her, especially now that they seemed like the bad people.
"Did you forget our mission? Do you not want to have a normal life? Because if we don't get what we're here for, at best, you'll have a year before the Gloves give up!"
"And you won't have more! You want that? Don't come crying to us after that!" Jake reminded Clarisse, placing his finger on the weak nerve of Clarisse, who just wanted to have a life without worrying about destroying everything she touched.
"The boy who died... What was his name?" Lucifer asked Ramian.
"J-Jian Asase," Ramian replied. "Are you here to help us?"
"Help? That won't be entirely false. I'm here to help you so you can help me," Lucifer replied, glancing towards the lady.
"That must be your son Julien then," he said, noticing the stomach of the lady. "Too bad he isn't old enough. The wait would be too big and won't have any abilities at the moment."
"Son? My wife is pregnant with a daughter. Please help us! I'll give you all the moments you can ever want!" Ramian told Lucifer.
"That's a girl? So that's not Julien either?" Lucifer asked, scratching the back of his head.
"I suppose you don't have an ability either?" He had hoped that Ramian was going to have the time control ability of Julien, but it was impossible. If he had the ability, he would've stopped Clarisse and the man without having his son killed.
One after another, Lucifer was getting disappointments. Now his plan to take the powers had gone down the drain, leaving nothing for him.
He let out a sigh. This is disappointing."
He turned around, looking at Zale. "Let's leave. This place doesn't have what we need."
"What about these people? We're going to leave them in danger?" Zale inquired.
"You want to save them?' Lucifer asked.
Zale nodded. "They just lost their son. I think they don't deserve this."
Lucifer glanced at Jake. "I heard what you were saying. You seem to be from Elisium. You need things to make the gloves. And I suppose they are here. I have no problem with it. In fact, I don't want to stop the construction of gloves since others will need it in the future as well."
"Who are you? How do you know so much about us?" Jake inquired.
"I doubt you'll be getting that answer here," Lucifer replied. "Since he said we can't leave you like this, I'm going to listen to him. Moreover, I am not really fond of people that use their age to kill kids. Sweet dreams."
He raised his finger towards Jake.
"Wait!" Clarisse stepped in the middle, understanding what Lucifer was going to do. She had seen him using his bolts. She couldn't let Jake be killed.
She launched a wing blast, pushing Lucifer and Zale back while she flew away with Jake.
"What are you doing? You're running away instead of killing the man?" Jake asked Clarisse. "We still haven't received what we came here for! Why are you running away!"
"I'm running to save your life, Genius. If you're dead, most of the research will go with you. I need you to stay alive. We can always find the materials again.'
"Saving my life? Just who are those people to make you step back like a coward?"
"All I know is that they aren't security here. Moreover, they are very strong. They came here with an ulterior motive like us. But your stupidity of killing a child made them hate you! It's a failed mission!"
"This-" Jake started replying, but before he could answer, he stopped.
Clarisse also stopped in her place. She could neither go forward nor go back.. She couldn't even blink as she was paused in time.